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Texas senators and congressmen react to Comey firing

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation at the Austin Sheraton on Jan. 13.

Posted: 6:53 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Texas members of Congress comment on President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey:

“The director of the FBI needs to be above reproach with an unquestioned reputation for fairness and impartiality. Unfortunately, Mr. Comey had lost the confidence of both Republicans and Democrats, and frankly, the American people. The next director needs to be someone of the utmost integrity who can successfully restore the public’s confidence and lead the men and women of the FBI who selflessly serve and defend our great nation.”

— U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

“This was within the president’s authority, but it is really important, it is absolutely essential, that we have a new FBI director that shares the confidence, not only of the president but of Congress and the American people.”

— U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas

“This Nixonian dismissal is designed to obstruct further inquiry into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The pretext that Comey was fired because he was too mean to Hillary Clinton sharply contrasts with cries of `Lock her up.’ It is long past time for my Republican colleagues to stop covering up and start exposing Trump to an independent, non-partisan commission as I have urged since November.”

— U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin

“President Trump is exercising his rightful authority to put a new director in place. I look forward to learning more about the decision by the attorney general and deputy attorney general. This is a fresh start for the new administration and I look forward to the process of a new nominee.”

— U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio

“President Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey is extremely suspicious. For the past six months, I have been asked if I believed Director Comey should be fired. Consistently, I have said that, despite his errors, I trust Director Comey more than any person President Trump would nominate. Above all else, the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election must continue.

— U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio

“While I understand the desire to maintain the public trust in the FBI, the timing of James Comey’s firing is troubling, especially since the Justice Department Inspector General was conducting an independent investigation into Comey’s handling of the Clinton email case. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation into Russian interference in our elections, I’m concerned that Comey’s firing is going to create new concerns around the public trust in the Department of Justice. This just highlights the need for the House of Representatives’ investigation of Russian interference in our elections to continue to move forward in a thorough and bipartisan way. I also have complete confidence in the men and women of the FBI to continue ongoing investigations.”

— U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is leading an overseas congressional delegation and did not release a statement. The offices of U.S. Reps. Roger Williams, R-Austin, Bill Flores, R-Bryan, and John Carter, R-Round Rock, did not respond to requests for comment.

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